27 Hot Office Lunches That Feel Like You Escaped for a Minute

Like any normal adult, I enjoy a salad, but by 1:17 p.m. I typically like to have something hot. Having a hot lunch is a nice little boost to your morale. It’s like the feeling you get when you put on freshly dried socks, but you get to do it at your desk without too much shame.

These ideas consider real office life: access to microwaves, questionable fridge storage, the possibility of a forgotten fork, and so on. Picking a few to mix and match and suddenly it won’t feel like the weekdays stretch on like a neverending corridor.

1) Miso Noodle Soup

Eating miso soup makes me feel better about myself and my crazy life. To prepare, mix the miso paste with hot water or broth. Add the tofu, a handful of spinach, and the cooked soba or ramen noodles. Just be careful not to boil the broth because miso is sensitive and can lose some of its subtleties. Put some leftover chicken or edamame in the soup to make it heartier.

2) Sweet Potato Bowl

I like lunch that is easy, reliable, and filling. To make a sweet potato lunch, microwave a sweet potato until it is tender, then split it open and top it with black beans, salsa, and plain yogurt or sour cream.

I like the sweet potato lunch because it helps with cravings for sweet and salty food. Some offices have microwaves that cook food a little too well, so I would recommend wrapping your sweet potato in a paper towel before microwaving it. That way it doesn’t become a dried out potato.

3) Chicken and Rice

When I have random leftovers and do not want to deal with any theatrics, this is what I prepare.

If possible, use rice that is a day old, then stir-fry it, along with diced chicken (or rotisserie chicken), frozen peas and carrots, and a quick scrambled egg.

When you pack it up, the following day it will reheat as if it was made for the microwave. To avoid that “sad reheated rice” flavor, which is definitely a thing, you can add a splash of soy sauce and a touch of sesame oil.

4) Lentil Soup

Lentil soup provides the same reliable and solid feeling as a sturdy pair of boots.

Cook the lentils with broth, onion, garlic, and cumin until they are tender. Finish it off with a squeeze of lemon.

It can be kept in the fridge for days, without getting weirdly watery. If you are the type of person who, is likely to have “second lunch” cravings, this one usually satisfies them.

5) Chili

Yes, I have stood in the break room eating chili from a mug. It was, in fact, amazing.

Create a chili by combining ground turkey or additional beans, tomatoes, chili powder, and any peppers you can handle.

In fact, the intention is to have leftovers as the taste gets stronger. Store toppings separately so that the cheese doesn’t turn into a weird film during the trip.

6) Mac And Cheese

This dish serves as comfort food with a little green cover-up.

Stir steamed broccoli into homemade or boxed mac and cheese, and suddenly you’ve got texture and bite, not just a cheese blanket.

If you want the pasta to stay silky instead of clumping up, add a splash of milk when you reheat. As for me, I like to add a bit of mustard powder or hot sauce. But that is your decision and depends on what’s in your desk drawer.

7) Teriyaki Salmon

I get why you’d worry about cooking fish at work; I’ve seen the “office tuna incident” as well. That said, salmon is a bit more forgiving, especially with glazes, and rice and veggie combos. At home, you can either bake or pan-cook the salmon, teriyaki sauce it, and then pack it with rice and broccoli. Reheat it with care so it doesn’t dry out; a dry fish at work is a cautionary tale.

8) Burrito Bowl

With this lunch, I can feel like I “went out” without wasting all of my break time standing in line. Just layer your rice, beans, chicken or fajita veggie mix, corn, and pico de gallo, and then add avocado or chips on the side. For the base, it’s best to heat it up first and then add the cold toppings so it doesn’t turn into a salsa soup. Your coworkers are probably hovering from the smell of good food.

9) Pasta E Ceci

Pasta e ceci is super easy to make, but the flavor is shockingly complex. Combine small pasta with chickpeas, garlic, olive oil, and tomatoes (or tomato paste) and cook until thick.

It is delicious, and unlike some meals, won’t be too heavy to take a nap after. Adding a bit of rosemary or some red pepper flakes can really elevate the dish. It’s the perfect touch to make the meal look fancier than a typical “end of the pantry meal,” and feels less boring to eat.

10) Chicken Tikka Masala

I call it “-ish” because I definitely do not spend weeknights grinding spices like some kind of Victorian apothecary.

Take some cooked chicken and simmer it with a sauce made quick using tomatoes, garlic, ginger, garam masala, and a little cream or coconut milk.

The smell is nice and familiar to good food. It can be kept for a few days. If you find spices irritating, just lower the heat and the flavor will still be interesting without the punch.

11) Upgraded Ramen

My lunch isn’t packed and I want something that is going to make me feel dignified about it like eating out. Please make ramen (or just boil the water if that’s easier), and add a soft boiled egg, some spinach, and some scallions. You can keep the add ins in a separate container so the noodles don’t get mushy. If you’re watching your sodium, use only some of the seasoning packets; ramen sneaks up on you with salt.

12) Meatballs And Marinara

Polenta is a great office lunch idea, it stores well, is easy to reheat, and gives a comforting feel.

Place cooked meatballs (beef, turkey, or plant-based) into the container with marinara, then layer with soft polenta.

When your polenta is set in the fridge, put some water on top of it before microwaving and it will loosen up again. For some reason, this lunch makes me more patient during afternoon meetings.

13) Veggie Stir-Fry

An awesome peanut sauce can save any vegetable problem, including that bag of broccoli you were supposed to use three days ago. Just do a quick stir-fry with your veggies, combine with peanut butter, soy sauce, lime juice, and a bit of honey/sugar and mix with some rice.

Then, reheat it and stir it; as it heats, the sauce will loosen and better stick to the noodles again. If you’re dealing with allergies, replace the peanut butter with sunflower seed butter.

14) Deconstructed Egg And Cheese Burrito

I will have eaten this at noon and I feel no shame which is a personal achievement. You can add eggs, cheese, and some roasted potatoes (or leftover hash-browns) and then wrap it all in a tortilla or put everything in a bowl. To reheat it best, you should take off the foil and put a paper towel on it so that the top doesn’t get soggy. If you don’t want the tortilla to taste like steamed tomatoes, add salsa after heating.

15) Sausage And Peppers

This is a good thing! Place a lot of sliced sausage (chicken or pork) and sweet cooked down peppers and onions on a bed of rice. In fact, they get more powerful the longer they are in the fridge. If you want to keep it lighter, add more peppers and decrease the amount of rice.

16) Tomato Soup And Grilled Cheese

One of the simple pleasures in life is soup and something you can dip in it.

Bring tomato basil soup in a sealed container and grilled cheese cut into strips so you can dip without committing to a full sandwich situation.

Reheat the soup dippers right before you set them out for dipping so they stay nice and crispy. The first time I purchased this, it was on a Tuesday. It was raining and I felt unstoppable even if it was just one moment.

17) Sesame Noodles

These noodles taste great warm, but even at room temperature they are just as good. If your lunch break gets interrupted, it won’t matter. Toss in some shredded chicken, and then mix the noodles with some sesame oil, soy sauce, ginger, and a little rice vinegar. Don’t sleep on the crunch from shredded carrots or cucumber, it’s more valuable than many people realize. Extra sauce in a small jar will make you feel great at 12:30.

18) Stuffed Bell Pepper

Since they seem to be made from scratch, stuffed peppers give the illusion of being homemade.

Stuff the peppers with a combination of rice, ground meat or lentils, tomato sauce, and spices, and then bake them until they are tender.

You don’t have to worry about sauce apocalypse type situations when heating one of these meals up in the microwave. Personally, I like to use a fork to eat the meals, but they can be cut up if you happen to be eating over your keyboard like a gremlin.

19) Lasagna Roll-Ups

Lasagna roll ups are kind of like the portion controlled cousins of lasagna and that’s a compliment. You just cook the noodles and spread ricotta and spinach on each one. After rolling the noodles like a burrito, you cover the top with marinara and some cheese and bake.

They travel really well and you won’t have a noodle explosion like you might with regular lasagna. If your week looks really busy, make a batch on Sunday and you’ll have easy meals all week!

20) Dumplings In Broth

Frozen dumplings are one of my favorite conveniently easy meals. You can prepare them home, or, if you have boiling water at the office, you can prepare them there too! They are great with a little broth and some sliced scallions added in. Just be sure to reheat them slowly so the wrappers don’t stick and become gummy. If you want to make it more filling you can add some cooked rice or a handful of spinach!

21) BBQ Pulled Chicken Sandwich

The best option tactically is to reheat only the chicken, and not the entire sandwich. Put together the meal at your desk like a calm and well-fed architect. The BBQ chicken and slaw are packaged separately from the bun. Napkins are an absolute must because it is mouthwateringly messy. If coleslaw isn’t your flavor of choice, pickles are equally good.

22) Thai Red Curry

Just thinking about red curry paste and coconut milk sends me back to that feeling of the “I left the office for lunch” energy. Serve with rice and veggies (plus tofu or chicken if you want) after simmering the curry paste with coconut milk. It smells great but is not to strong to be a problem in most offices and is super easy to reheat. If the spice makes you sweat in a fluorescent lit conference room, I recommend using less paste and adding more coconut milk!

23) Shepherd’s Pie

This is like a weighted blanket but for lunch. Layer cooked ground meat (or lentils), peas and carrots, and gravy, then top with mashed potatoes and bake until the top gets a little browned.

To avoid having to chisel a big frozen pie from a large pan Monday morning, divide it up into single portions. It stops me from mindlessly drifting toward the snack drawer at 3pm like a haunted spirit.

24) Chicken Quesadilla

If you aren’t careful, the office microwave can ruin your quesadilla by making it floppy.

My preferred method to warm it up is to pan crisp it and then do a light reheat. I allow it to rest so the cheese stays together better. If you don’t want your salsa to get soggy, pack it separately. If you have some roasted veggies on hand, feel free to add them.

25) Farro Bowl

Farro gives your lunch a nice chewy texture and makes it feel like a more elevated meal. After you reheat it, make sure to add the feta on top so it doesn’t turn into a gooey mess. Then mix the farro with the roasted veggies, olive oil, and lemon. It can survive the madness of your fridge and the daily commute. Great additional protein options include chickpeas or sliced chicken.

26) Tortellini Soup

For lunch, I like something warm and gentle. Using soft edges and no sudden surprises, this means cooking cheese tortellini in either homemade, or store bought, tomato soup.

You’ll need to stir in some cream or half and half once you’ve cooked the soup. It reheats well but the tortellini could absorb some of the broth, so consider putting a little bit of water before microwaving. A little bit of basil will make it seem that you put in a lot more effort than you actually did.

27) Ham And Cheese Melt

I love a simple melt. Salty ham, gooey cheese, and crunchy, toasted bread. It’s easy to make, you just throw everything on a skillet and it gets crispy. You can wrap it up to take to work and just reheat it while you’re there. Just be careful because if you microwave bread too long it gets chewy and that is pretty tragic.

I recommend doing it in short bursts. I recommend mustard on the side. It gives a nice contrast to the sandwich and helps avoid that cafeteria nostalgia (unless you want it, of course).